Entry of Jean Le Bon in Paris 1460

Jean Fouquet painted this illumination of the entry of Jean le Bon into Paris, sometime in the 15th century. Its location in a book at the Bibliothèque nationale de France tells us something about its intended audience: a wealthy, literate elite who likely held similar political views to the artist. The image presents a highly stylized depiction of French royalty entering the city. The use of gold leaf, the heraldic emblems on the royal garments, and the presence of a crowd all contribute to an image of power. Fouquet's painting is clearly meant to reinforce the authority of the monarchy. But what kind of a monarchy is represented here? To understand this we would need to undertake an analysis of French political history of this period. What was the relationship between the monarchy and the city of Paris? What were the major political issues of the day? By addressing these questions, we can move beyond a simple appreciation of the painting's aesthetic qualities to a deeper understanding of its social and political significance.